Fundraising Ideas
Organizing a fundraising event is one way to support Extra Hands and raise awareness and funding for patient service and ALS research. To get you started on your way, we have compiled a list of fundraising ideas that have been proven to be successful for businesses and individuals just like you. The list is for reference only and is certainly not comprehensive, but it can be a starting place for your own creative efforts - fundraising ideas are endless! Please note, the list may serve as a guide in your planning, however, Extra Hands does not specifically recommend or take any responsibility, financial, legal, or otherwise, for your fundraising efforts.
Quick Tips:
GETTING STARTED:
Make the commitment and set a goal. Be aware that fundraising is fun, but it can also be considerable work. You may want to start small and expand on a successful event. Reach for the stars, but be prepared to make the time commitment to hit your target.
BRAINSTORM:
What type of event will work best in your community or school? What time of day or year is most advantageous for your fundraiser? Who will be targeted to attend or participate (sponsors, ticket buyers, donors, etc.)?
DEVELOP A PLAN:
Start a calendar and break down your fundraising goal into smaller goals. Schedule due dates for yourself and do your best not to procrastinate. Remember, successful fundraising in intentional, planned and intelligently executed.
INSPIRE OTHERS:
Share with your donors why supporting Extra Hands is important to you. They will be moved to help by your commitment. If you are finding it difficult to ask for donations, remember, you are not asking for a contribution for yourself, you are asking on behalf of thousands of people with ALS and those who care about them.
FOLLOW THROUGH:
Follow through is the key to fulfilling your goal. Sometimes requests can get lost in the shuffle. Don’t be afraid to send a gentle reminder to your supporters letting them know that there is still an opportunity to give. Follow up with individuals who have pledged to help and always remember to thank your donors.
BACK TO SCHOOL: Fundraising Ideas for Students, Faculty and Grads
Alumni Organizations – Ask your alma mater to place an ad in the alumni newsletter asking for donations to benefit Extra Hands.
Dance-a-thon – Plan a dance marathon in your gymnasium.
Read-a-thon – As an individual, class or school, collect pledges per book read.
Pancakes for People with ALS – Host a pancake breakfast on school grounds.
Sororities/Fraternities – Contact the national chapter of your sorority or fraternity and ask them to make a donation to Extra Hands.
Tailgate –Show your school spirit and organize a barbeque or tailgate before the big game.
Talent Show – Organize a talent show on campus and charge guests who attend. Let them know that ticket sales will benefit Extra Hands.
Teacher’s Pets – Faculty members, encourage your students to help you fundraise. Make it a class project and teach children the valuable lesson of philanthropy.
FOR SALE: Auction, Goods and Services for Fundraising Dollars
“At the Car Wash” – Offer to wash your friends’ and family members’ cars and donate the fee to Extra Hands. Host a larger car wash in your company lot or see if a local organization will
let you use their property.
Bake Sale –Cookies and muffins and cakes, oh my! Your local donut shops and bakeries will probably give you whatever baked goods that haven’t sold by closing time.
Barter your Talents – Are you great with young children? Do you have a green thumb? Are you a Mr. or Ms. Fixit? In return for a donation, offer to do neighborhood chores such as gardening, or teach swimming lessons, or tutor computer skills, or baby sit, or anything!
Dog Wash – Suds up the pups for Extra Hands.
Garage Sale - It’s never too early to start spring-cleaning. Collect goods from your basement, attic and garage. Ask your friends to search their homes for unwanted items too. Place an ad in your local paper and post flyers at community college campuses, churches, supermarkets, etc. Host a neighborhood garage sale and pool the proceeds to help fight ALS.
House Sit – If a friend or family member is going out of town, offer to look after their place while they are on their trip.
Pet Sit – Kennels can be expensive. Offer to look after someone’s pet while they are gone and have your fee support Extra Hands.
Silent and Live Auctions – Hold an auction for donated items such as trips (put those frequent flyer miles to good use), tickets, etc. Offer a few “mystery” prizes such as a piece of jewelry wrapped in a brown paper bag.
Used Book/CD Sale - Ask your friends and family member to donate their old books and CDs and set up a sale in your home or yard.
GAME ON: Sports Fundraisers for Athletes and Everyone
Competitive Racing – Organize a Run For Your Life, our signature event, a 5k run/1-mile walk in costume. We have all the tools.
Cycling/Bike-a-thon – Organize or participate in a bike ride for Extra Hands. Contact your local bike shops for sponsorship. Too cold to ride? Some gyms hold Spinning Marathons in their facilities.
Exercise Classes – Ask your Pilates, yoga or kickboxing instructor to make an announcement during class about your fundraising efforts and how to help.
Go Climb a Mountain – Accept the physical challenge of mountain climbing while committing yourself to the personal challenge of fundraising. Seek sponsors to help your reach the top.
Drive 4 Life – Find a golf course that will host your organized tournament to benefit Extra Hands and the ALS Therapy Development Institute, the world’s largest ALS research laboratory. Offer Mulligans for sale and raffle prizes to increase donations.
Strike, Don’t Spare, ALS– Organize a bowling event or tournament at your local lanes. Ask the owner to waive the rental costs and turn that money into sponsorship dollars.
“Take Me Out to the Ball Game” – Coordinate with a local sports team to purchase a large group of seats at a discounted or donated rate. Sell the tickets, charging more to family and friends. Contact the stadium to have your name and Extra Hands in lights!
Tournaments – Put together a soccer, basketball, football, baseball or softball tournament in your area. Contact local club teams for support. Incorporate a free throw shoot out or field goal contest to juice up the event.
IT’S BUSINESS: Getting Money from Places Where You Spend Money
Cover Charge – Are you a regular at a local bar or club? Is there a cover charge? Arrange for a portion or all of cover charges to be donated for one evening to Extra Hands.
“Dear Editor” – Are you a long time subscriber to a favorite magazine or daily? Ask the editor to sponsor you in your fundraising efforts. Compelling stories make great human-interest pieces.
“Doctor, Doctor, Give Me the News” – Ask you general physician, dentist, chiropractor, etc. to support your fundraising efforts.
Patrons of the Arts - Approach your local theatre or museum for donated tickets to auction.
“The Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick Maker” – Ask businesses to make a pledge in return for your faithful patronage. If a monetary gift is not possible, ask for a raffle prize such as a dinner entrée for two, an oil change, a pound of coffee, a dozen bagels, 10% off haircut, etc.
Retail Therapy - Coordinate with your favorite store to have a percentage of profits from store sales, proceeds from a particular item or promotion’s sales or a one-day sale’s proceeds benefit Extra Hands.
Tips – At your favorite restaurant or watering hole, ask the wait staff and/or bartenders to donate a portion of their tips for the evening. Be sure to publicize the event and you will find patrons more generous with their gratuities.
Travel Agencies - Contact your travel agent and ask them to donate a travel voucher. Auction the vacation prize.
Work it Out – Ask your gym to place a “Change for Change’ jar at the front desk.
WORKING 9 TO 5: Employer/Corporate Fundraising Ideas
Annual Events – Turn your company picnic or holiday party into a fundraising opportunity.
Box Seats - Ask a company to donate their box seats to an entertainment or major sporting event in your community. Hold a drawing for the tickets.
Casual Dress Day – Approach your Human Resources department with a “Blue Jeans Friday” or “Dress Down Day”. Allow employees to purchase casual dress allowances with proceeds benefiting Extra Hands.
Change for Change - Place a jar or can in a strategic position in the office and explain that all contributions will go toward Extra Hands. It always helps to start with some seed money of your own, to show others your commitment.
Coffee and Donuts - Set up a latte bar in the office and get Krispy Kreme donuts donated to sell.
Corporate Sponsorship – Identify one or several large companies and contact them directly. If you are planning an event, offer to mention the company name/logo on materials such as invitations, programs or press releases. Please note, Extra Hands should be informed of any corporations or businesses who are approached for underwriting or contributions for your event, so as not to overlap with existing Extra Hands fundraising activities.
Matching Gifts – Find out if your company has a matching gift program. Ask your fellow co-workers for pledges and approach your employer to match their support dollar for dollar. Matching gifts is a great way to double your donations, and at no extra cost to your donors!
Office Fundraising Event – Invite everyone to a fundraising party at work. Provide a pizza lunch and share with them your commitment to fighting ALS. Encourage your coworkers to challenge each other to raise the highest donation amount. Offer the “winner” a prize such as movie tickets or a restaurant gift certificate.
Parking - Auction prime spots in the office parking lot for one-week blocks.
Payday - Employees may elect to have a certain amount deducted from their salary to donate to Extra Hands.
Snack Break - Buy bulk candy and sell it at work. You’ll be amazed how much a person might pay for an afternoon treat at 3:00 PM!
Vacation Days – Ask your supervisor or Human Resources department if you can substitute one of your vacation days for a day’s pay. Encourage your co-workers to do the same.
V.P. Auction – Auction off executives’ time at the bequest of the highest bidder for work-related activities such the mail run.
YOU’RE INVITED: Special Event Ideas
Award Nights – “May I have the envelope please.” If you are a Golden Globe, Oscar, Emmy, Tony or Grammy fan, gather with friends to see which stars will be this year’s winners. Create ballots and have guests enter a pool based their predictions. The person with the best guesses wins a portion of the pot and the rest goes to Extra Hands.
Barbeque – Hold a cook out in a park or private garden and sell tickets.
Chili Cook Off – Contestants enter to win a prize. Supply your own judges and have guests pay for the tasting.
Concerts – Whether you prefer the symphony or old time rock and roll, concerts can be one of the most fun and successful ways to fundraise. Showcase one performer or a few and sell tickets to attend.
Full House – Invite the boys or girls over for poker night.
Garden Tour – Organize a garden tour of one or several homes in your community. Provide light refreshments and advertise through your neighborhood historical society or local nursery.
Movie Night – Pop the popcorn and bust open the Junior Mints. Movie nights with friends are a fun and easy way to raise money. Find access to a screening room or local drive-in and you can invite even more guests. Back to the Future anyone?
Scavenger Hunt/Road Rally – Participants pay a fee to enter as an individual or team. Clues are given at each checkpoint pointing to the next checkpoint. Clues can be placed in different orders to avoid teams following/copying one another. Penalties for speeding, splitting up or cheating add to time total.
Super Bowl Party – “Are you ready for some football?” Host a Super Bowl get together and raise money at the same time. Everyone scores!
Theme Party - Host a theme party (50’s, luau, etc.) and charge per person to attend.
Season/Series Finales - Whether you are hooked on LOST, in love with The Bachelor, or waiting to find out who will be America’s next idol, top model or apprentice, TV shows provide memorable finales and great fundraising opportunities. Charge your guests at the door and turn on the tube.
Tying the Knot – In lieu of wedding gifts, ask your guests to make a donation to Extra Hands on your behalf for your special day. Have them honor your commitment on your anniversary too.
Wine and Cheese Parties – Ask a local restaurant to donate a portion of a wine tasting if you bring participants or recruit local suppliers to donate wine and cheese and serve in your own home to ticket buyers. You can also invite ticket holders to bring along a bottle of their own favorite wine to share their good taste.
AND FINALLY – Miscellaneous Fundraising Ideas
Amateur Night – Can you or someone you know play a musical instrument or sing? Ask the owner of a neighborhood bar or coffee shop to let you bring in guests one evening for entertainment and refreshments. Charge at the door and let patrons know it’s a fundraising event for Extra Hands.
Community Finger Print-a-thon – Log on to www.thekidsafenetwork.com and click on the “Fundraising” tab for more details.
Environmentally Friendly – Collect recyclables and ask your neighbors to do the same.
Letter Writing/Email Campaign – Write a letter/email sharing your commitment to fighting ALS. Browse through your Rolodex and holiday card list to reach out to people you interact with everyday, people from your past and those with whom you do business. You never know who may have a personal connection to ALS or who is looking for an opportunity to give. The more personal your letter, the more compelling you will be. Mention your fundraising goal and provide information about ALS.
World Wide Web – Create your own website or blog about your efforts to fight ALS. E-mail everyone on your contact list and invite them to visit your site and donate.
“You Say it’s Your Birthday” – Ask your friends and family member to write a check to Extra Hands in lieu of birthday gifts this year. Try it again this holiday season.
Fundraising Basics
By contributing to the efforts of Extra Hands for ALS you are joining a nationwide team committed to developing tomorrow’s community leaders through the fight against ALS. As you fundraise through the Athletic Challenge, that goal will inspire you and others. ALS devastates thousands of families in our country and you never know who may have a personal connection to ALS. Remember this as you ask others for support; you are offering them an opportunity to make a difference. Extra Hands is here to help you reach your personal athletic and fundraising goals. Below you will find a few tips and tricks to keep you motivated along your way.
Educate yourself on the science of ALS
Did you know that scientists feel that if they can cure ALS, then similar diseases like Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s may not be far behind? Check out www.extrahands.org to review more information about ALS and how Extra Hands for ALS Is fighting the disease. Find out where the money goes and gather information about the latest hopeful research. Sharing this information will move your donors to give.
Make the first pledge yourself.
Before you ask others to join in your cause, show you are serious by pledging your personal support with an individual donation. It is easier to ask someone to do something you have already done yourself, and your personal gift will show how strongly you feel about the cause.
Ask. Ask. Ask.
Some people find fundraising hard when they first begin, but it can be as simple as just asking. You can only raise money if you ask for it. Don’t start by apologizing and don’t feel guilty or greedy – you are being generous. You are helping to fight a terrible disease on behalf of thousands upon thousands of peope who can’t fight it themselves. You may be surprised by yourself and by others. The more you ask, the more you raise, the easier it gets.
Tell everyone you know and ask them to tell everyone they know.
Generate genuine enthusiasm for the cause by reaching out to as many people as possible and sharing your story. Why are you raising funds for Extra Hands? Whether it is through word of mouth, email or letter – this is worth sharing. Start with easy targets like your close family and friends and build confidence. If you sound excited, your ask will sound like an exciting opportunity to give. Excitement is contagious!
Create a network of supporters.
Once your supporters have made a gift, have them extend a challenge to other potential contributors (example: “I’m supporting Joe with a pledge of $100, will you match or beat that amount?”). Sometimes the best gifts aren’t monetary. Ask a friend to help you brainstorm ways they can help you fundraise. Perhaps they can host a social function in their home, expanding your list of contacts. Maybe they are a member of a service club or organization and would be willing to make an appeal for funding on your behalf.
Make fundraising a part of your everyday life.
Talk about your efforts in conversation with both old and new friends alike. Consider changing your voicemail/answering machine to mention your participation in the Athletic Challenge. Add information about Extra Hands and include a link to donate at the bottom of your email signature.
Familiarize yourself with Athletic Challenge materials
Know your materials so that you can answer your donors’ questions. Make copies of the Contribution Form and put your name on each one. Donors can return the forms to you or mail them directly to Extra Hands with payment. Always keep a few copies of the Contribution Form with you to present at a moment’s notice. You never know when you might run into a potential sponsor.
Keep good track of your pledges and send reminders.
If you are sending a letter or email sharing your story, some people may respond to you immediately, while others may forget. Just because someone hasn’t given to you doesn’t mean that they have said no. Perhaps they are on vacation or maybe your request is under a stack of paperwork. One way to offer a friendly reminder is to send a newsletter or email blast giving everyone an update on your progress (example: “Thank you for your support. Together we’ve raised $1,000 for Extra Hands so far and are half way to our goal!”). This will make your donors feel like part of your team and inspire new supporters to give. If you are asking people to support you in person, you can save the trouble of following up if you collect a donation at the time of their pledge. Try asking for a gift when money is handy, like around payday.
Think big.
Put together a list of potential major donors in your network: those who can donate $500 or more. These may be business associates, employers, college friends, etc. Arrange to meet one-on-one over lunch or dinner. Face to face meetings are always best. Write a script of points you wish to cover. Be passionate and be bold. Remember, when you focus on a mission, people want to support you.
Send thanks.
The more personal you can make a thank you note, the more meaningful it will be to your supporters. Add photos. Be creative. Take the time to express your gratitude to each donor for their generosity. Extra Hands will also send an acknowledgment letter to each sponsor once we receive their payment. This letter may be used for tax purposes.
Stay motivated.
Fundraising can be tough. Don’t be discouraged if you hear a “no thank you.” Chances are it just wasn’t in that individual’s budget to give at this time. Remember, funding significant initiatives is only possible with the help of people like you. You cannot know the number of individuals you are inspiring, educating, and reassuring. Thank you.
If you have fundraised before
Don’t assume that if you have asked someone for donations in the past, you cannot ask them again. Let them know that you appreciated their previous support and share with them your excitement for this new opportunity. These family members and friends have already invested in you and will probably want to do it again. They may have even put it in their annual giving budget for the year. If they were unable to give before, maybe this is a better time to donate.
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